Title

Author

Date of Award

January 2013

Degree Type

Open Access Thesis

Document Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Richard Osbaldiston

Department Affiliation

Psychology

Abstract

This meta-analysis examined the relationship between trust and organizational citizenship behaviors (OCB). Trust has been studied extensively in the literature, and three referents of trust have been identified: interpersonal, organizational, and overall. OCB have also been studied extensively from a wide variety of perspectives. Dirks and Ferrin (2002) meta-analyzed the relationship between these two variables, and they found significant relationships between 1) interpersonal trust and OCB and 2) organizational trust and OCB. The purpose of the present research was to update the literature on these relationships. Twenty-three studies were found that measured the relationship between at least one of the referents of trust and OCB that were published since Dirks and Ferrin or not included in their analyses. All of the correlations between the referents of trust and OCB were significant, and the strongest relationship was found between interpersonal trust and OCB. Although this research helps clarify the nature of the relationship between these constructs, it also points out areas for future research that are needed in this field.